Folding paired legs for tables



Jan. 5, 1954 J, pucc 2,665,181

FOLDING PAIRED LEGS FOR TA BLES Filed April 2, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l3 u Q A K f I? 6 12 w fi \5 2 m E Fig 1 I 2 E5 39 31 3 W /.q/ 22 LV 1 I I 1 27b 5L 45 INVENTOR.

ATTORN EY Jan. 5, 1954 J. PUCCI 2,665,181

FOLDING PAIRED LEGS FOR TABLES Filed April 2, 1952 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Fig.4

, 5:: i Fig. 7 5 7 34 33\ E a; 5| -50 x v INVENTOR.

JOSEPH PUCCI A /z@ ATTORN EY Patented Jan. 5, 1954 Joseph Pucci,

Philadelphia,

Pa., assignor. to

P. B. R. Manufacturing 00., Philadelphia, Pa., a partnership composed of Joseph Pucci, Sidney Bobb, and Isadore B. Rachman Application April 2, 1952, Serial No. 280,044

The present invention relates generally to tables and more particularly to so-called banquet tables, used by caterers and the like, and having foldable legs to facilitate transportation and storage.

An object of the present invention is to provide a banquet table or the like having a top provided with? a depending peripheral apron and at least two :novel leg-members pivotally mounted on the underside of the top, each leg-member comprising a pair of connected, divergently-bent tubular legs and being foldable into the confines of the apron thereby permitting a large number of tables to be stored compactly in abutting side-by-side relationship and also in tier-ontier relationship. Qther objects and advantages of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description, appended claims and accompanyingdrawings.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the accompanying drawings form thereof which is presently preferred a d which has been found in practice to give factory results. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, a d that the several parts and elements can be y riously arranged and organized, without departing from the spirit or essential attributes of the invention.

' Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a banquet table embodying the present invention, as it appears in use, parts being broken away better to reveal the construction thereof.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of half the table of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale, as it appears with the legs folded up.

Figure 3 is an elevational view, looking from scale, of the extensible brace mechanism in the legs-folded position, taken generally alongthe line 55 of Fig. 2.

Figure 6 is an elevational view, on a further enlarged scale, of the extensible brace mechanism, shown in legs-open locked position.

g Figure '7 isa cross-sectional view, taken generally along the line 1--'l of Fig. 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentaryperspective view 3 Claims. (Cl. 311-87) 2 showing a number of tables stored in side-by-side and also tiered relationship.

In Figs. 1-7, I have shown a banquet table forming one embodiment of the present inven tion and including a one-piece top [0 of wood or other suitable material, which is generally rec,- tangular in configuration, with relatively long side edges l I and relatively shorter end edges l2.

The top I0 is provided with a peripheral apron of sheet metal or the like, indicated generally by the reference character 13 and extending continuously along the edges H and 12. The apron 13 includes an uppermost horizontal flange l4 which overlies the rabbeted upper peripheral edge of the Wood panel so as to present a generaly flush surface, coplanar with the main part of the upper wood surface. Extending vertically downward from the flange 14 is a wall l5, disposed in abutting relationship to the edges of the wood top H! but extending downward appreciably therebeyond. For example, the top Ii] may be of plywood, with the wall 15 having a vertical dimension of about 2 to provide a space of almost two inches beneath the top Ill and within the apron 13, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 4. At the lower edge of the apron wall I5, is a small, horizontal, inwardly-extending wall Hi, from the inner edge of which, an inclined wall I1 extends inwardly and upwardly to the underside l8 of the top Ill. The upper edge of the inclined wall I! is provided with an integrally formed horizontal flange I9, which is spot-welded, as at 20, to a thin L-shaped sheet metal strip 2| extending around the periphery of the underside l8 and fastened thereto by a plurality of small, spaced screws 22. The walls l4, l5, I6, I! and I9 of theapron 13 are preferably integrally formed of asingle strip of sheet metal suitably bent and folded into the above-described shape. For ease of assembly, the apron 13 may be formed initially in four sections (one for each of the edges II and I2) which can be fitted onto the edges of the wood top H] and thereafter welded or otherwise connected at their ends to provide a more or less continuous peripheral structure.

Fastened to the underside [8 of the top I ll by screws 23 or the like, adjacent each end of the table, is. a pair of opposed, longitudinally extending, transversely spaced leg supports 24 and 25, of steel or the like, generally L-shaped in cross-section with an uppermost horizontal flange abutting the underside I8 and a depending vertical portion terminating somewhat above the lower edge of the apron I3. The supports 24 and 25 are formed in three sections, namely endmost parallel sections 24-a and 25-11; angular diverging intermediate sections 24-1) and 25-1); and centermost parallel sections 24-0 and 25-0, spaced further apart transversely than the endmost sections 24-0. and 25-11.

Each pair of opposed leg supports 24 and 25 is adapted pivotally to support 'a novel legmember, indicated generally by the reference character 26 and made up of separate tubular legs 21 and 28, bent at 21-11 and 28-0, respectively (at an angle of approximately 45 degrees) to provide lowermost transversely-diverging footportions 21-1) and 28-h respectively. As shown particularly in Figs. 2 and 4, upper and lower tubular connectors 29 and 30' are welded or otherwise suitably fastened to the legs and extend horizontally transversely therebetween. The upper connector 29 is disposed somewhat below the upper ends of the legs 2'! and 28, while the lower connector 30 is disposed slightly below the bends 21-11 and 28-11.

I have found that positioning the lower connector below the bends 2l-a and 28-a is particularly important and advantageous in that it eliminates the tendency for the legs to bend further when placed under compression (i. e.,

when they are in open position supporting the and thereby provides an extremely rigid and The bent configurafirm support for the table. tion of the legs is important since it permits the major part of the legs to be placed relatively close together (and out of the way of the knees of the persons seated at the open table) while enabling the lowermost foot-portions to be nearly as far apart as the width of the top I 9 so as to provide maximum stability.

The upper ends of the legs 21 and 28 are hingedly connected to the endmost sections 24-a and 25-a of the leg supports 24 and 25 by pivotpins, to enable the leg-member 26 to be positioned either vertically (as in Figs. 1 and 4) or horizontally (as in Fig. 2). In the horizontal closed position of the leg-member 26, the upper ends of the legs 2'! and 28 are disposed in ad.- joining, parallel relationship to the endmost sections 24-a and 25-a, with the legs extending longitudinally and inwardly of the top 10; the bends 21-a and 28-11 and the diverging foot-portions 21-22 and 28-h being located inwardly .of the inner ends of the centermost sections 24-0 and 25-0.

Since the sections 24-0 and 25-0 are spaced further apart than the, sections 24-11 and 25-a, as described above, clearance is provided between the leg 21 and the section 24-0 and also between the leg 28 and the section 25-0, for a pair of sliding extensible links or braces 32, which are thev subjectv of my co-pending application Serial No. 280,043, filed April 2,, 1952, and which will be described hereinbelow.

Each of the extensible braces 32includes .a pair of arms 33 and 34, the elongated main portions of which are disposed in side-.by-side relationship to each other. One end 35 of the arm 33 is off-set and is hingedly connected to the centermost leg support section (24-0 or 25-0) by a pin 36. The opposite end 31 of the other arm 34 is oppositely off-set and is hingedly connected to the leg (21 or28) by a pin 38 at a point intermediate the upper tubular connector 29 and the bend (2l-a or 28-a). The other end 39 of the arm 33 is provided with a C-shaped collar or clip 40 connected thereto by a rivet 4i and bent to overlie and enclose the adjoining portion of 4 the arm 34. The other end 42 of the arm 34 is provided with a similar C-shaped collar or clip 43 connected thereto by a rivet 44 and bent to overlie and enclose the adjoining portion of the arm 33.

The collars 40 and 43 serve to interconnect the arms 33 and 34 in side-by-side slidiiiglextensible or telescopic relationship, the extended position of the arms being shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 6, and the contracted position being shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

' A notch 45 is provided in the upper edge of the arm 33 adjoining the inner edge of the collar 40, while a similar notch 46 is provided in the upper edge of the arm 34 adjoining the inner edge of the collar 43, as best shown in Fig. 5. The inner vertical wall of each notch is tapered so that the notch becomes slightly narrower as it becomes deeper.

Encircling the arms 33 and 34, intermediate the collars 40 and 43, is a locking-member 41 consisting of a metal platev extending vertically beyond the arms 33 and 34 and bent at its lower end to provide a shoulder or push surface 48. An elongated opening 49 is formed in the plate, the arms 33 and 34 being adapted to extend there through with a snug sliding fit laterally, but with a substantial vertical clearance. A helical spring 50 is positioned within the lower part of the opening 49, with its lower end seated on a small projection 5i and with its upper end bearing against the lower edges of the arms 33'and 34, so as to tension the locking-member downwardly relative to the arms 33 and 34 with the upperhorizontal edge 52 of the opening 49 resiliently urged against the upper edges of the arms. I

When the leg-member 26 is moved manually from the closed horizontal position of Fig. 2* to the open vertical position of Figs. 1 and 4, it is apparent that the pin 38 moves downwardly and outwardly away from the pin 36, and that the brace 32 is shifted to extended position; the arm 34 moving longitudinally relative to the arm 33, with the collar 43 approaching the collar 40. The moving collar 43 contacts the lockingmember 41, which is thereafter carried along with the collar 43, from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 6 wherein it abuts the collar 40. In the latter position, the two notches 45 and 46 come into alignment and permit the locking-member to move downward, under the action of its spring 50, from the dash-dot line position to the solid-line position of Fig. '7, wherein the edge 52 extends within the aligned notches 45 and 46 and thereby securely locks the arms in the extended position of Figs. 1 and' 4, which corresponds to the vertical open position of the leg-member 26. The above referred to taper of the notches compensates for any wearing away of the edge 52, which simply. seats itself securelyjat a somewhat lower and slightly narrower zone of the aligned notches. When it is desired to close the leg-member 26, the surface 48 of each locking-member 41 is pushed upward to shift the locking-'member'back to the elevated position shown'in dash-dotli'nes in Fig. 7 (wherein the" edge SZ' lS above the notches) and the'leg-meinber is manually;tiltd about the pivot pins 36 and 38-; which, atjthe same time, shifts the brace arms 33 and 34 back to the contracted position of Figs. 2 and 5. v

As can be seen in Fig. 3, the leg-members and leg supports are completely contained within the apron l3 when the leg-members are in the folded up, closed position. This .permits a large numher of tables to be stored compactly in a relatively small space, by arranging the tables on their side edges, in abutting relationship to each other and also stacking them in tiers as shown in Fig. 8.

It is apparent that the top Ill, instead of being made of a solid piece of wood or plywood, could be constructed of sheet metal or of molded synthetic resin, and that stiffening or reinforcing members or elements could be incorporated if desired, in a manner obvious to those skilled in the art.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms and, accordingly, the foregoing embodiment is to be considered merely as illustrative, and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims, rather than to the above specification, as indicative of the scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent:

1. A table comprising a top having a continuous peripheral apron depending an appreciable distance therefrom and a pair of leg-members mounted on the underside of the top, said legmembers having releasable braces for locking them securely in generally vertical open position and being foldable upward to closed position (wherein they lie substantially parallel to and closely adjacent the underside of the top and are disposed entirely within the confines of the apron, each of said leg-members including a pair of laterally spaced tubular legs, the major upper portions of which parallel each other and are spaced inward appreciably from the lateral edges of the top, the legs of each pair being oppositely bent, somewhat above their lower ends, to provide lowermost laterally-diverging generally straight foot-portions, each of said leg-members also including at least two rigid transverse tubular connectors welded to and extending laterally intermediate the legs, one of said connectors being disposed substantially above the bends and one appreciably below the bends, whereby said leg-members remain rigid under the weight of the top, without any appreciable tendency to bend further or buckle at the bends.

2. A construction according to claim 1 wherein the top is generally elongated and rectangular in configuration; and wherein two pairs of laterally spaced leg-supports are secured to the underside of the top adjacent the ends of the top and extending generally longitudinally thereof, the endmost portions of the leg-supports of each pair being somewhat closer together than the remainder thereof; and wherein the upper ends of the legs are pivotally connected to the aforesaid endmost portions of the leg-supports; and wherein each leg-member is provided With a pair of extensible self-locking braces, each brace being pivotally connected at one end to the centermost portion of one of the leg-supports and being pivotally connected at its other end to one of the legs at a point intermediate the upper connector and the bend thereof.

3. A table comprising a top, laterally spaced leg-supports secured to the underside of the top, a pair of longitudinally-spaced leg-members disposed on the underside of the top, each of said leg-members including a pair of laterally spaced tubular legs, the major upper portions of which parallel each other and are spaced inward appreciably from the latera1 edges of the top, the legs of each pair being oppositely bent, somewhat above their lower ends, to provide lowermost laterally-diverging foot-portions, each of said leg-members also including at least two rigid transverse tubular connectors welded to and extending laterally intermediate the legs, one of said connectors being disposed substantially above the bends and one appreciably below the bends, whereby said leg-members remain rigid under the weight of the top without any appreciable tendency to bend further or buckle at the bends, the upper ends of the legs being pivotally connected to said leg-supports with the upper connector disposed somewhat below the leg pivots, and a releasable brace for each leg-member, said brace being pivotally connected at one end to a leg-support at a point spaced from the leg pivot and being pivotally connected at the other end to one of the legs at a point intermediate the upper connector and the bend of the leg.

JOSEPH PUCCI.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 120,487 Levine May 14, 1940 171,145 Lambie et al Dec. 14, 1875 1,757,260 Silverman May 6, 1930 1,933,164 Corporon Oct. 31, 1933 2,278,810 Virtue et al. Apr. '7, 1942 2,448,360 De Saussure Aug. 31, 1948 2,547,296 White Apr. 3, 1951 

